Sports | Football - The Independent Florida Alligator

Coach Dan Mullen and the Gators will hold open practices on Friday and Saturday afternoon.

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Three Gators football questions that merit answers entering spring practice

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 16, 2018

Dan Mullen knows expectations are high.

Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks is looking to move on from a disappointing 2017 campaign.

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Franks ready for a fresh start in 2018

By Dylan Dixon | Mar. 14, 2018

For Feleipe Franks, the start of spring football practice this week brings one thing to the forefront of his mind.

Dan Mullen added six more recruits Wednesday to round out his first signing class as the Gators' head coach. “I’m excited about the athleticism that we’ve brought in today and the flexibility those guys have,” he said.

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National Signing Day Recap: UF adds six recruits to roster on Wednesday, bringing freshman class total to 19 players

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 7, 2018

After adding 13 players to it’s roster on Dec. 20 during the first ever early signing period, Florida football coach Dan Mullen tacked on six more recruits to his 2018 signing class on Wednesday.

First-year Florida football coach Dan Mullen is looking to round out UF's 2018 freshman class on Wednesday during National Signing Day.

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Florida Gators Football 2018 National Signing Day Blog

Feb. 7, 2018

After adding 13 players to its roster on Dec. 20 during the early signing period, Florida’s football team is looking to round out its 2018 freshman class on Wednesday.

Former Florida football player and current Eagles tight end Trey Burton is one of three Gators heading to Super Bowl LII.

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Gators in the NFL: Dante Fowler Jr. records two sacks; Trey Burton, Jaylen Watkins, Mike Gillislee Super-Bowl bound

By Sam Campisano | Jan. 23, 2018

For most of Sunday afternoon, it looked like former Florida football player Dante Fowler Jr. would get a chance to play in the Super Bowl.

Running back Jordan Scarlett is expected to be the bell-cow back by our sports editors.

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Gators reinstate Jordan Scarlett, three other football players suspended last season for alleged credit card fraud

By Dylan Dixon | Jan. 23, 2018

The credit card fraud saga involving nine Florida football players last season appears to be coming to a close.

Former Florida defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. didn’t mince words after the Jaguars’ 45-42 playoff win over Pittsburgh on Sunday. “For everybody that was down on us, they can eat that,” he said.

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Gators in the NFL: Fowler Jr. fired up as Jags advance to AFC Championship

By Tyler Nettuno | Jan. 16, 2018

When it came to addressing the NFL community that had overlooked his team all season, former Florida and current Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. did not mince words.

Former Gators tight end Mike Mularkey coached the Tennessee Titans to a one-point victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL playoffs on Saturday.

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Gators in the NFL: Robinson scores first touchdown, Mularkey leads Titans to victory

By Sam Campisano | Jan. 9, 2018

Demarcus Robinson picked a good time to score his first NFL touchdown.

Former UF quarterback Malik Zaire wore a Schutt AiR XP Pro helmet with a basic, single-bar facemask. “It was all about simplicity,” Zaire said. “And it looked the best, in my opinion.”

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Ever wonder how football players choose their facemasks? It’s a little more complicated a process than you’d think

By Ethan Bauer | Jan. 7, 2018

The average football game only features about 11 minutes of actual football, according to the Wall Street Journal, with the other 49 lost to runoff between plays. So tonight, when Alabama plays Georgia in the College Football Playoff National Championship, take one of those dormant 49 minutes of replays, huddle shots and sideline views to inspect Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts and his Bulldogs equal, Jake Fromm.

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Dan Mullen hires his defensive coordinator from Mississippi State, Todd Grantham

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 29, 2017

Dan Mullen has added another Mississippi State assistant to his staff at Florida.

In the team’s final five games, UF running back Adarius Lemons registered 136 yards on 19 carries for an average of 7.2 yards per attempt.

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Column: Four Florida players primed for breakout seasons in 2018

By Dylan Dixon | Nov. 29, 2017

There’s no other way to say it, folks.

UF offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier participates in Florida's Gator Walk prior to the Orange & Blue Debut on April 8, 2016, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

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Randy Shannon, Doug Nussmeier reportedly fired from coaching staff

By Ethan Bauer | Nov. 28, 2017

After two days as Florida’s head coach, Dan Mullen is already sorting out which assistants will join him on the sidelines in 2018.

New England Patriots' Julian Edelman eyes the ball before making the catch as Atlanta Falcons' Robert Alford, left, and Keanu Neal defend, during the second half of Super Bowl 51 in Houston. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

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Neal’s friendly fire and other Gators in the NFL: Week 12 Edition

By Sam Campisano | Nov. 27, 2017

Keanu Neal has become known for his big hits.

Coach Dan Mullen announced Feleipe Franks as the Gators' starting quarterback heading into Saturday's game against Charleston Southern.

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‘We’re going to be back’: Gators reflect on a forgettable football season

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 26, 2017

The room is quiet. You can go in.

Dan Mullen has been hired as the next head coach of Florida's football program, the school confirmed on Sunday evening. Mullen was the offensive coordinator at UF from 2005 to 2008 and spent the past nine seasons as head coach at Mississippi State.

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Dan Mullen hired as Florida's next head coach

By Dylan Dixon | Nov. 26, 2017

Less than one decade after helping Florida win two national championships over a three-year span, Dan Mullen is coming back to Gainesville.

While the Gators (4-7) stumbled to a 38-22 loss on Saturday, falling to the Seminoles (5-6) for a fifth consecutive season, many players are eager to see how UF will move on from a forgettable 2017 campaign

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Forget 4-7: Three things that matter for Florida’s 2018 season

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 25, 2017

UF receiver Josh Hammond spent about 11 words reflecting on Florida’s 2017 season.

Feleipe Franks threw a career-high three interceptions and also lost one fumble in Florida's 38-22 defeat to Florida State.

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Turnovers maim Florida in season-ending defeat to FSU

By Dylan Dixon | Nov. 25, 2017

As Feleipe Franks watched his third interception of the day land in the arms Matthew Thomas, the only thing Florida’s quarterback could do was stare.

While Chauncey Gardner struggled in areas like tackling at the beginning of the year, he’s come into his own as a safety, grabbing interceptions in each of Florida’s past two games.

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Gators in position to snap Florida State’s 35-game bowl streak

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 20, 2017

Something was different when Josh Hammond showed up to practice on Monday.

The Gators haven’t beaten the Seminoles since 2012, meaning both last year's and this year's seniors never did. “We just want to send those guys out with a good win,” sophomore running back Lamical Perine said. “There’s going to be a whole lot of fans coming out for that game. It’s going to be a nice game.”

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With newfound momentum, Gators can save sinking ship of a season vs. FSU

By Ethan Bauer | Nov. 19, 2017

Sentimentality crept through Florida’s locker room after the team’s win over UAB on Saturday. Finally, after six weeks and five games without a win, the Gators could celebrate. And they did.

Chauncey Gardner Jr.'s 42-yard interception return set up Florida's first touchdown of the game on Saturday in its 36-7 win over UAB.

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Gators end five-game skid with 36-7 victory over UAB

By Dylan Dixon | Nov. 18, 2017

As Kylen Binn’s pass soared 35 yards through the air, Chauncey Gardner Jr. stopped dead in his tracks.